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William Card

@williambillcard.bsky.social
664 followers 1.8K following 301 posts

Artist, lecturer and researcher. Interests: uncanny, affect, visual effects CGI. wcard.myportfolio.com he/him

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by William Card
Mike Bailey @linusd.bsky.social · 14h
If you have a vote in tomorrow’s by-election please use it to elect Zack Polanski
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Dr. Damien P. Williams, dread portent down from a mountain cave @wolven.blacksky.app · 05/10/2026
Remember when us phil-tech types said effective altruism was just utilitarianism taken to its worst possible extents? This is what we meant: Real harm for unquantifiable potential benefit. "…'we believe that the world should accept some bad things happening for the benefits of this technology….'"
politico.com
Sam Altman to Decoded: ‘The world should accept some bad things happening’ for the benefits of AI
The OpenAI CEO sought to distinguish his policy stance from rival developer Anthropic.
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The Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute @dairinstitute.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
In which @timnitgebru.blacksky.app and @emilymbender.bsky.social remind us that the risk of AI is not "superintelligence gone rogue," but human reliance on flawed systems in high-stakes situations: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Forget ‘superintelligence’: error-prone AI nearly sparked world war three this month | Timnit Gebru and Emily M Bender
The risks of AI aren’t what we think they are, as a recent security incident between China and the United States reveals
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Moby Dick @mobydickatsea.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
the Right Whale’s head bears a rather inelegant resemblance to a gigantic galliot-toed shoe.
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Gareth Watkins @garethwatkins.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Since everyone started talking about Yudkowsky last week, I think we should talk about the other person who created contemporary AI discourse: Nick Land. This will be written for a general audience, and for something more substantial I'd recommend @eruditorumpress.com's Neoreaction: A Basilisk
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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Most TV is just this now.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
We have the chance to cut bills, end the sewage scandal and stop the rampant profiteering. But instead it's more half-measures, and kicking the issue into the long grass.
Prime Minister stops short of nationalising water companies
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Working Class History @workingclasshistory.com · 27/09/2026
#OtD 27 Sep 1936 1000 uniformed fascist Blackshirts led by Oswald Mosley in Leeds, UK, were confronted by 30,000 anti-fascist locals who attacked them, pelted them with stones, hitting Mosley, and drowned out speeches by singing The Red Flag stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9965...
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Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 26/09/2026
The AI doom / extinction lie is coming from the exact people with an addiction to burning methane and a climate denialist worldview. I am pretty mad about it. New piece here: www.crikey.com.au/2026/09/22/a...
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Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 25/09/2026
An individual in Canada used ChatGPT for eight months to plan one of the country’s worst mass shootings. Yet, if you listen to politicians and media, the real threat of AI is a fantastical scenario where it might wipe out humans in ten years. They need to stop getting fooled by tech deceivers.
disconnect.blog
The media has the AI threat all wrong
Generative AI is harming people today. We don’t need to waste time fantasizing about science fictional scenarios.
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Karl Bode @karlbode.com · 25/09/2026
this is, so we're clear, the kind of stuff unrealistic AI doomsday scenarios are intended to overshadow in the press half-cooked automation layered onto already very broken systems in a country too corrupt to have working regulators
arstechnica.com
UnitedHealth uses AI model with 90% error rate to deny care, lawsuit alleges
For the largest health insurer in the US, AI's error rate is like a feature, not a bug.
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Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 24/09/2026
Just when I think I can’t hate OpenAI and Sam Altman any more, new details come out about how ChatGPT helped a shooter plan one of the worst mass shootings in Canadian history in Tumbler Ridge, BC. OpenAI made an explicit decision not to report the user to authorities.
motherjones.com
ChatGPT helped the Tumbler Ridge school shooter focus on guns, tactics, and terror, our investigation reveals
OpenAI’s chatbot fed the shooter’s violent fantasies and planning up to the massacre.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Palantir have just bought themselves a Labour Lord with close links to the Labour government. No other word to describe this other than corruption. How can Watson remain a member of the House of Lords and keep the Labour whip?
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Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Is it ok for management to phone students asking them to take modules not validated on their degree because they’ve sacked people and can’t staff the modules listed? A working day before teaching starts? Hypothetically, obviously.
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dwarf fortress bugs @dwarffortressbugs.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
[0012032] Diplomacy button no longer does anything when clicked.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The clock is ticking. We have to act now. Vote Green on October 8th. 💚
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Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.blacksky.app · 17/09/2026
So while you're thinking about a super human, super "intelligent" alien being killing you, here's what's really happening. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
abc.net.au
Doctor forced to apologise after AI makes 'scary' error about illegal drugs
Artificial Intelligence is listening to many people's medical appointments, but it is not always hearing things correctly.
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Elizabeth Sandifer @eruditorumpress.com · 15/09/2026
I‘d love for Last War in Albion v2 to add “#1 Best-Selling comics criticism book” to its list of astonishingly niche accomplishments like “lost a minor Hugo Award.” So if you’re considering getting it, there’s no better time than now. www.amazon.com/Last-War-Alb...
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flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
They’re suddenly all saying “safety concerns” in unison but I’m hearing “the arse is going to fall out of this business when investors realise it doesn’t make money”.
Dario, Elon, and Sam all agree about pacing the frontier
Dario Amodei A @DarioAmodei
We Must Pace the Frontier: I've written a new essay on why the Al industry should slow down, with a three-part plan for doing so.
Anthropic is unilaterally committing to the first of these steps. We'll provide third-party evaluators with permanent, employee-level access to our systems, so that they can verify adherence to our safety measures, report on incidents, and assess models' alignment during training.
You can read the full post here:JUST IN: Sam Altman reveals OpenAl will not go public in 2026, calling an IPO now an "ill-advised moment" given mounting Al safety concerns.
21:03 • 12/09/2026 • 351K
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Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Between the PRs of (largely likely stolen) math breakthroughs, claims of "rogue AI" (actually cybercrimes by companies, but whatevs), and doomerist "whistleblowers", it feels like we've been subjected to a gish gallop of hype recently. >>
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Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
So how about this for a "pause AI" proposal: "pause credulous AI reporting". No more media about "breakthroughs" or "rogue agent swarms" or ... UNLESS and UNTIL that media demands the actual empirical evidence and/or focuses on the motivations of & harms by these companies.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Labour has delayed its plans to allow new North Sea drilling until after the Holborn and St Pancras byelection. A Green win on 8th October will add pressure on Labour to reverse this shortsighted and dangerous plan. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
People ‘incensed’ by North Sea plans can vote Green in byelection, says Zack Polanski
Party leader, who will contest Starmer’s former seat of Holborn and St Pancras, says gas drilling has come up on doorstep
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Jamie McKelvie @mckelvie.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
My main thought about "10% chance ai will kill humanity in a decade" is that the people who run the tech companies are some of the worst humans alive and they're not even interested in dealing with the harms their products cause *now*
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 07/09/2026
Reform routinely attack universities as a "scam" and denigrate the value of higher education. The VC of Manchester Met and president of Universities UK should be defending the sector. Not cosying up to those who want to undermine it. Full response ⬇️ www.ucu.org.uk/article/1463...
ucu.org.uk
University boss criticised for appearing at Reform UK conference
The University and College Union (UCU) today criticised Universities UK president and Manchester Metropolitan University vice-chancellor, Malcolm Press, for appearing at Reform UK's conference in Birm...
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Michael Hobbes @michaelhobbes.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
However much you hate British media, it is not enough www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09...
How having a disability became cool
Young women, nicknamed ‘sickfluencers’, are turning chronic illness into a lifestyle trend and entrenching a culture of economic inactivity

Young women are also more likely to get caught up in “social contagion” – the spontaneous spread of behaviours or emotions previously observed by sociologists in “outbreaks” of bulimia, self-harm and transgender ideology. What may have otherwise been transitory feelings are seized upon and obsessed over until they form a central pillar of a person’s identity. A chronic-illness influencer won’t want to get “better” any more than a female-bodied transgender person would want to re-identify with their sex.
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Diane Duane @diane.dianeduane.com · 05/09/2026
(shaking herslf out of weird mood) Okay, time to go through the “camera roll” in the iPad and inflict unusual or quirky images on everybody. This’ll do as a start…
Fake Star Trek TOS episode title: “Kirk Tells ChatGPT To Kill Itself And It Does”
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Leeds Green Party @leedsgreenparty.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Leeds Green Party councillors oppose the proposed data centre development at Skelton Grange and believe its approval is at odds with Leeds City Council’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Please read our full statement on our website. leeds.greenparty.org.uk/2026/09/03/l...
leeds.greenparty.org.uk
Leeds Green Party Statement on Skelton Grange Data Centre - Leeds Green Party
Leeds Green Party councillors oppose the proposed data centre development at Skelton Grange and demand more transparency and accountability.
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William Card @williambillcard.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
0.4 permanent position: Lecturer BA (Hons) Fine Art at Leeds Arts University. Good course, good people, proper art school. #fineart #education #lecturer #job www.leeds-art.ac.uk/about-us/job...
leeds-art.ac.uk
Leeds Arts University
Welcome to Leeds Arts University, the only specialist arts university in the North of England
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William Card @williambillcard.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
It’s ok when Fed Ex leave your new 3D printer out in the rain on the front doorstep and then forge your signature, right? #fedex #shite
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Lupita Nihongo @otsumamiboy.blacksky.app · 01/09/2026
If buying isn't owning then piracy can't be theft. Any reasonable corporation knows that.
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Pile Of Garbage @pileofgarbage.net · 01/09/2026
I love how Werner Herzog is ALWAYS like this:
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Alex Prichard @profalexp.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
It also became clear that Uni exec were leaning on the advice of a consultancy firm that has been shaping HE policy in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK: Nous (or Nousferatu, as they’re now known). The fact VCs and others are delegating policy to consultants, despite £400k salaries, is disgusting
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
I know this isn't terrorism. You know this isn't terrorism. The authorities know this isn't terrorism. But, once again, they have labelled protesters "terrorists", as part of the long-running programme to ensure that no one dares protest about anything any more. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Seven charged with damaging Trump’s Scottish golf course accused of ‘terrorist connection’
Course at Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort was painted with words ‘Gaza is not 4 sale’ and clubhouse was sprayed with graffiti
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Jathan Sadowski @jathansadowski.com · 27/08/2026
You can just ban socially toxic technologies! They were socially banned like twelve years ago with Google Glasses, we can do it again in more formal ways with this latest attempt to push the Pervert's Delight™ onto society. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
abc.net.au
Push for import ban on 'pervert' smart glasses amid privacy concerns
Support is growing for a ban on the import of so-called “smart glasses”, amid an influx of low-cost devices that are being used to film Australians without their consent.
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Our rapid disillusionment with political leaders is treated by much of the media as some kind of pathology. But what I see is these leaders backtracking on their promises, dashing people's hopes and serving the ultra-rich ahead of the rest of the population. Why wouldn't we be disillusioned?
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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 26/08/2026
HELP
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
I have written to the Cabinet Secretary to seek assurances that the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, who was lobbying for the privatised water industry until recently, has had no involvement in talks about the future of Thames Water.
25th August 2026
Dear Antonia,
It is reported in the media today that the Prime Minister has ‘shelved’ plans to take Thames Water into administration.
As is well known, the Chief of Staff in Downing Street James Purnell was until his appointment, the Chief Executive of Flint Global, whose clients it is widely reported include members of the privatised water industry, and Thames Water’s bondholders. 
The Times reports that the Prime Minister has been ‘advised by officials’ not to go ahead with special administration. In addition to James Purnell, can you confirm that no other officials involved in this process have links to the privatised water industry, and have accepted no hospitality from anyone associated with or acting on behalf of members of the water industry, including Flint Global, post the departure of James Purnell. 
It is especially concerning that the Times reports that the Prime Minister has listened to advice that even the half measure of temporary special administration would be costly and run into legal issues. Of course, this is what advisers and lobbyists for the privatised water industry will be saying and it is the ‘advice’ James Purnell would have been making weeks ago, It is also highly unlikely to be true, given the repeated catastrophic failures of Thames Water, including polluted rivers, sky high bills and water shortages, Thames Water could be taken into public ownership right now and Thames Water would not have a legal leg to stand on.
The public and I expect a proper explanation for this decision, including an update to parliament at the first possible time, and assurances that James Purnell has had nothing at all to
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2000AD Randomizer @2000adrandom.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Ron Smith
Daily Dredds
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William Card @williambillcard.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Went so see Kiki’s Delivery Service last night with my daughter and her girlfriend. Was my first IMAX screening, and seemed to be very sensitively done. The film has no villains, just some people you might not get on with. Takes its time. Always makes me cry at the end.
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404 Media @404media.co · 17/08/2026
SCOOP: 404 Media placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it. What did we find? It ended up at an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books. Yes. This is literally the logo outside the Amazon warehouse door. Read now:
404media.co
We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training Facility
We placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books.
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
It’s time we sorted out the press. Constant misinformation to protect their donors and fossil fuels is destroying lives and our planet. The Government must step up and stop being cowardly.
Sorry Zack Polanski this long hot summer is not the apocalypse - it's like a gloriously long holiday in France
..with village green cricket thrown in good measure
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Jon Bakos @jonbakos.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
"You're a Luddite for not embracing a technology that hallucinates constantly (in a way that can't *ever* be fixed), needlessly burns resources, barely works, and is pushed by the worst living humans"
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Andy Birss @andybirss.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
The 'career path' of Toby Young (one of the principals behind the hounding of Jason Arday) involved his dad getting him into university, supplying cocaine and then years spent writing thousand of offensive and sexist messages before being offered a job in the Office for Students. #r4today
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
The world is on fire - if only the scientists had warned us about single use barbecues while there was still time.
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hookland.bsky.social @hookland.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Goodnight from the Brackley Crafting Circle and largely unsuspected coven, meeting in the snug of The Old King pub to make a list of local perverts in need of a cursing. Goodnight from Matthew Wrench, his mermaid tattoo singing him salt-kissed lullabies. Goodnight from Hookland.
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William Card @williambillcard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
@leedsgreenparty.bsky.social Did Green #Leeds city council vote in favour of developing new data centres at Skelton Grange? If so, why?
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William Card @williambillcard.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
#Leeds smells like bonfire
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Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.blacksky.app · 31/07/2026
We're in the era of incompetence & cybercrimes headlined as "unprecedented model capabilities gone rogue." So OpenAI & Anthropic are trying to one up each other with such incompetence because the "press release as a service" performing media & clueless politicians parrot pre IPO CEO talking points.
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Creative & performing arts subjects received £16.8 million SPG 2024-25; £12.9 million in 2025-26; £ O million in 2026-27. The University of Creative Arts will thus lose half of its government funding this year; Art University Bournmouth 40.7%, Norwich U of Arts 40.4% and Leeds Arts U 30.3%. 1/2
timeshighereducation.com
Arts institutions hit hard as OfS details teaching grant cuts
University for the Creative Arts loses more than half of its funding after support for creative subjects reduced to zero
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